Joe Walshe

Looks like way to build to me. Why did you foam some walls and fill others with what looks like glassfibre.

I like the wide overhangs.

Plachon,

Thank you for your input.

I have been researching eucalyptus a lot in the past few days. To cut a long story short we have decided to sell the land before or after first cutting and selling the eucalyptus.

We recently purchased very good land (50 rai), with a spring, in Loei. It's on high ground with many trees in the area. We have been in discussions with local agri/forestry people and hope to plant a range of trees on it. We have been advised lime will grow well and can be a good investment. Other trees to be planted include Teak, Mango, Tamarind, Papaya, Bananna and alternative fast growing ttrees (alternative to eucalyptus). I don't have names of local indigineos trees here now.

We have been advised that chilli will grow very well between trees and is profitable. Bees (honey), ants (ant eggs) and mushrooms will also flourish.

Having read the Farming forum for over a year now I don't see retired Farangs making significant money farming unless they work hard. I work hard in Ireland and make more in a week than I might make in months of farming in Thailand.

Ultimatley, we don't need an income from farming and would be joining the hobby farming brigade. I would, however, like to think that the developed land would increase in value because of the trees etc. and our kids would have something to inherit. Will post a new thread giving more details once we know more.

Creating a pleasant environment with trees etc. is more appealing to me now even if Eucalyptus proved to be very profitable.

Some of the comments are very baaaaaaaaaaaaaad.

From reading the above psots, I can only assume there has been a mis-communication somewhere. My wife will discuss with her Mum to clarify. I don't think I'll be filing for divorce just yet.

The info. on growing rice without the need to flood fields in very interesting. I hope it will benefit the local Thai farmers. I find Thais are slow to change habits of generations, if advised to do so, but may copy others if they can see some new method works.

Chownah,

I agree, ideally we buy when prices are low and sell when prices are high. But in this case, I don't see cow prices going up significantly to justify the cost and hassle of holding on to them. Unlike other investments, the cows need constant feeding etc. Maybe better to cut losses now.

Keg,

Thanks for insight. Interesting analysis.

Apologies to all who responded. My figures are not correct. Our farm in Chumphae is 3o rai approx. But most of that is Fruit trees, large ponds, Grass for cows, House area. The area for rice is about 10 rai. 30,000 bht approx. was spent on seed, labour for all stages, feertiliser, fuel and milling. The price quoted locally for sticky rice is 13,000 bht for all our rice. Unfortunately i do not have price for specific quantities. However, it does seem that rice is not getting a good price at the moment.

Bought about 10 cows some years back. At the time we figured cows would produce offspring. Population would increase. sell surplus. Make a few baht.

What has happened is, time is spent bringing cows to feed everyday. Growing special grass. We now hear prices are very low. Have decided to sell all and cut losses. Otherwise could be feeding them eveyday and selling at a loss anyway. They require attention 7 days a week and make it difficult to do other things.

Don't expect any comments nor am I looking for advice. Just shooting the breeze a bit. I'm more interested in hearing views on Sticky rice and eucalyptus prices. I have posted 2 posts on these subjects earlier.

Wife has 200 rai of 3 1/2 yera old Eucalyptus growing in Chaiyaphum. People from local logging company had offered her 13,000 bht per rai last year, to be paid when trees 3 1/2 years old. Today guys from logging company offered 8,000 bht per rai. Logging people are cutting neighbours plantation and wanted to make it worthwhile to move equipment to site.

We are not in any hurry to sell and will wait for trees to be 5 years old. However, I am a little concered about the lack of competition out there when it comes to selling.

Any comments welcome.

Wife's just been on the phone to her Mum in Chumphae. Bottom line is that 30 rai of sicky rice that costs in the region of 30,000 baht to grow is worth 13,000 baht if sold locally. This surprises me as I read on this forum that Thai sticky rice prices have doubled due to shortage of sticky rice in china. China, I belive, wants to buy 50,000 tons of sticky rice from Thailand. Seems to me the local farmers are being screwed - again.

Not huge issue for us as we will keep most of the rice for personal consumption. Had only intended selling some. Farmers whose main livelyhood is growing rice must be hurting.

Any views or opinions most welcome.

Kamalabob,

Looking better everyday. Very ambitiouse project. Looks like good workmanship from what I can see.

Joe

Superb photos. I am curiouse to know what type of camera or other equipment are you using.

How is the house going? Would like to see some photos, if you get a chance. Joe

I'm an architect/builder here in Ireland (Home in Khon Kaen also).

We use steel frame for internal partitions mostly, but I have also used them to construct roofs. advantages;

- All walls straight, plumb and level.

- No rot

- Very little wastage. Any left over material can easily be brought to next job.

- Lightweight. Easy to transport or/and lift around site.

I have not seen metal studs and channels in Isaan Building merchants. Is whole house has to be imported from outside province and steel frames imported from overseas? If so I suspect Timber or concrete posts and beams construction is the way to go. Local materials, local labour etc.

Also, if this type of building is highly insulated and air tight it can only be cooled with air conditioning. Importing materials and cooling house don't seem to make it very enviromentally friendly system.

Joe

Curiouse to know how flooding effects the airport. It would be unusual for a runway to be flooded as the flooding would seriously undermine the structural stability of the runway itself.

I also find this subject interesting. I started to read the Post becauise I like honey and thought a few hives might be good. But the notion of encouraging different breeds of bees sounds interesting.

Hope you'll keep us all updated with news from time to time. A photo or two would be nice.

Joe

This question came up awhile back with someone else, so I emailed a nurse in the Uk who went and asked some questions.

Mom will be accorded & receive the same treatment as a UK citizen would receive. Thats all in order - you have nothing to worry about.

You are advised to register with your local NHS GP.

Tim

Hey Mark - thats an interesting take on the subject, but quite true.

Westerners in places like the UK, most parts of Europe and the USA, live and grow up in an increasingly "sterile" enviroment. Everything must be cleaned to a certain standard, food has to be preped to a certain standard ect ect .... and healtyh and sfety regs are quite artificial. Oh, and your kids can't play outside in the rain because they might get a cold, and they always have to where shoes ... and on and on it goes.

At the end of the day I don't think it does them much good quite frankly.

Just have to look at how fat and unfit alot of European citizens are to see that all the articificaily implimented and encouraged health cautions in their modern "advanced" lifestyles have actually resulted in a nation of people who are loosing all their natural resistances and physical abilities.

"Walk to school , now theres a good boy Johnny it's only 2 miles", could result in a flood of tears if there is a bus that can take him all the way.

In Thailand my kids are and did grow up playing in the mud and rain, getting bitten by all sorts of bugs, falling and scraping knees (and a broken arm on more than one occassion), running around the bush barefoot - and they are none the worse for it. Face with Macdonalds or Pizzahut meal and a Thai roadside food stall - they'll chose the later.

I bet it was a shock horro scenario for the NHS nurses when your wife wanted to get up and go home. Of course they wouldn't know any better.

Tim

The above quotes are from maizefarmer posted under the topic "Pregnant Wife: Your Experiences?, Living in the UK" in October 2006.

They suggest to me that maizefarmer is from the UK and has or has had kids in Thailand.

I hope the above halps in solving the mystery to Maizefarmers benefit.

My wife will ask her relatives in Loei to amke enquiries.

Joe

Somtham,

Very impressed that you and your wife went to all this trouble to find Maizefarmer. Wish I could be of soem assistance. Unfortunately, I'm in Ireland.

It is interesting to note thta the Thai police don't seem to have easy access to adresses and indeed tel. nos. of all immigrants. I wonder could the nearest Immigration office help. Other concerened residents might like to try the telephone investigation route.

Anyway, well done on your effirts.

Joe

Prayers offered for King, his family and people of Thailand. From Thai people in Limerick, Ireland.

Your questions are too numerouse for me to attempt answer all of them. However, I would be interested to know your motivation to move from Aus to Thailand. Your life definetly won't be dull in Bkk.

MY main concern would be for your daughters education. Surely she will get a bettre education In AUs and perhaps once she's finished high school and you've saved a bundle you would be in a better position to move here.

Kamalabob2,

House looks very impressive from what I can see - good design and construction.

Reminds me of when we built our first house ouitside Chumphae. The builders refused to believe I wanted 600mm wide trench foundations with steel re-inforcement. They were on day rate and we had to get others to do it. We built block walls off foundation. Walls supported roof. Floor slab was also 100mm concrete with bamboo re-inforcement. The locals joked that we were building a condominium - everything seemed so much stronger than what the locals did.

I often wonder if they were right to just dig a few holes, fill with concrete with pre-cast concrtet columns. Cheap and easy. There houses cracked as they subsided but not seriously.

Good luck with your house - hope to see updated photos.

Chrislani,

Great photos. Impressive house. Hard to believe you're getting it built for 70,000. Nice size, not too big or small. Area around house looks pleasantly wooded. I, and maybe others, am curious about the foil insulation to underside of roof. I presume this is something you got locally to reflect heat out. Did you source it locally and was it easy to use.

I am an Architect/builder in Irerland and we use foil insulation to seal timber frame buildings. I know it is essential to leave an air gap and seal all joints.

well done.

Joe

If I recall correctly there was a thread where lots of posters put pics of themselves and or family, but b*****d if i can find it now, maybe someone has some ideas?

Found it.

My Family.

Jasus Thadeus that was funny. Nearly spilt my coffee.

Now I can see the real reason Forum members don't want to upload there photos. You're all ugly as hel_l.

c-sip,

Nice photos of cows. Wife and I looking at them. Out of curiosity, how much did you pay and what are they worth now?

OK, agreed. Wasn't the best idea in the world.

Can't have IRS, Revenue commisioners, Interpol, ex wives, immigration, etc. seeing what people who post look like.

Now that I've been posting and reading for awhile I am curious about other regular posters. I would like to be able to put a picture to some of the regular posters. Would any of you be willing to upload an image or two. Pictures could include;

Yourself

Wives and kids

House or farm